Multi-genre Tub Ring ready for Rhino's

Tub Ring isn't America's favorite new pop band yet, but at least the guys have goals. "We're trying to write Top 40 songs, we're just not good at it," frontman Kevin Gibson says. \nWhat the musicians are good at is rockin' out in ways that defy the mainstream and effectively knock it to the floor. By definition, pop music is generally cute and catchy, tends to evoke emotion (but never too much) and is decidedly mainstream, all of which means the majority of it makes the critical mass shake its bon-bons in droves to the nearest Sam Goody. \nTub Ring does not have the pop sheen and manufactured appeal that makes an artist legitimate nowadays, although the musicians do perform a medley of Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys and Christina Aguilera when they are feeling saucy at gigs. What Tub Ring does have is a new album that could perhaps alter one's perspective of what constitutes quality musicianship.\n"There is more to music than Top 40," keyboardist Rob Kleiner says. "We want to do some underground stuff that has never been popular. Pop tunes come and go. We try to do something a little more memorable." \nThe band consists of Gibson, Kleiner, bassist Jason Fields, guitarist Shawn Sprinkle and drummer Dave Tavares. All of the members have fairly eclectic tastes and like to incorporate a multitude of styles into their work. At times, it appears that the band's music shifts in and out of various genres.\n"I understand the concept of genre-jumping, but it is not what we set out to do," says Kleiner, who describes the concept as "sub-consciously what we do to keep ourselves interested." The band's new album, Fermi Paradox, was recorded at Gravity Studios in Chicago and is almost symphonic in form. The band brought in an arsenal of guest musicians, including a violinist, sitar player and a horn section, for added flavor and authenticity.\nWhile Tub Ring's music is stylistically ecclectic and innovative in today's music market, the musicians are anything but new to the game. "We started out as a noisy little punk rock band," Gibson says. The band has been making records for more than a decade and has gone through two keyboardists, three guitarists and three drummers so far. The newest addition, Sprinkle, previously of NIL8, recently joined the band for keeps and makes his Tub Ring debut on Fermi Paradox. \nNow seasoned musicians, the members of Tub Ring have come a long way musically. Gibson says he would rather disown some of their earlier material. The band first gained significant notoriety with 2001's critically acclaimed Drake Equation (Invisible Records) that was produced by Trey Spruance of Mr. Bungle.\nGibson describes Spruance as "down to earth" and "full of ideas." He says the band developed a "symbiotic relationship" with him. Overall, Gibson was just thrilled to be working with one of his idols. \nDrake Equation was a breakthrough for the band, putting it categorically in the company of non-conformist artists like Beck, Fantomas and even Frank Zappa. The members consider themselves ever-evolving and seek to become progressively better with each new release. With Fermi Paradox, Tub Ring sought to take the music to new levels in many respects, bringing in guest talent to replace previously synthesized parts and lyrically trying to take new paths. \nGibson, the band's primary lyricist, approached the new album with a little more freedom, tackling new subject matter. For Gibson, the songs' lyrical craft is of primary concern. "It's always great when people mention the lyrics -- it gives me a warm fuzzy," he says. \nIn retrospect, Gibson criticizes Drake Equation, saying at times the styles seemed to be clashing and forced together. On the new album, the band focuses on writing songs as a whole, making them each a cohesive unit. On Fermi Paradox, the attention given to stylistic transitions and general song craft is evident.\n"We were very focused going in to record this album," Kleiner says. "We tried to write music to challenge ourselves and the instruments." Both Kleiner and Gibson admit to being very enthusiastic and proud of their newest recording. \nDigital Noise, www.digital-noise.net, says that the band needs to be seen to be truly understood. The band members describe their live performances as aggressive, and they claim that no one will leave disappointed. \n"It's fun the watch the monkeys jump around on stage. It's a good time," Gibson says. \nTub Ring is in town kicking off a three-month tour of the United States and Canada. The band is performing at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Rhino's All-Ages Music Club. Cover is $5.